Support for new Greek government soars after it promises to spend $234M on poverty relief

ATHENS, Greece – Greece's new left-wing government is promising to spend 200 million euros ($234 million) this year on assistance programs for people pushed into "extreme poverty" by the financial crisis.

In its first bill to parliament Tuesday, the government said it would spend the money on programs to distribute food stamps and provide housing and energy bill assistance.

Greece is struggling to emerge from a six-year recession that saw a dramatic rise in unemployment and poverty, following drastic spending cuts in exchange for bailout loans.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' Syriza party has seen its popularity rise since winning January elections, despite being forced to extend its bailout agreements.

According to an opinion poll for private Star television Tuesday, support for Syriza has risen to 41.3 percent from 36.3 percent in the election.